Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, is a new illness, a virus, that can affect your lungs and airways.

Symptoms

Anyone who has symptoms, however mild, or is in a household where someone has symptoms, should not leave their house to go to work. Those people should self-isolate for seven days, as should those in their households for 14 days.

The most important symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.

If you are concerned about your symptoms, or you feel you are unable to manage your symptoms at home, Use the 111 online coronavirus service. The 111 online coronavirus service will ask about your symptoms and tell you what to do.

Other things you can do to stop the infection spreading:

wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds

use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available

cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze

put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside

The Government is advising that people in England should aim to wear a face covering in some circumstances.

For more information around the face covering aspects of staying safe and alert outside your home, click here.